Kolkata: A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal which resulted in heavy rainfall in the past few days in both West Bengal and Odisha has intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Komen’, with the meteorological department forecasting very heavy rain over the next few days.
High velocity winds have destroyed hundreds of houses, rendering more than 800 people homeless and injuring at least 50 people in three districts of Howrah, Burdwan and Nadia in West Bengal, officials said on Thursday.
Kolkata has also been affected, with officials saying heavy rain will continue for at least 48 hours.
“Gangetic Bengal will experience heavy rainfall along with wind speeds expected to reach around 85km/h as the cyclone makes landfall,” said an official of the Meteorological Department.
“Rainfall will occur at most places of West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and even Tripura, Mizoram and Assam with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy at isolated places over the Gangetic West Bengal on July 30-31 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on August 1,” the Indian Meteorological Department’s Cyclone Warning Division said.
“Sea condition would be high over the North Bay of Bengal during the same period and fishermen in both Bengal and Odisha are advised not to venture into the sea,” the Cyclone Warning Division added.
The West Bengal Government has sounded a high alert in all South Bengal districts and has taken necessary precautionary measures to deal with situations arising out of the cyclone.
The worst affected district is Nadia where the storm flattened about 400 mud houses, uprooted 3,000 trees and 200 electric posts in Kalyani subdivision. “Three camps have been erected to arrange meals for people who have lost their houses. Food was being provided to the infants of the evacuees and fodder to the cattle,” Chanchal Debnath, a member of the district administration said. District officials have rushed to the affected areas and relief materials have been sent.
“The disaster has affected thousands of people. The state government has started relief operations on a war footing. The state will build homes for those who lost their houses in the cyclone. We have asked district officials to prepare a list of the affected families,” said state minister Jyotipriya Mullick.
“The present requirement is to provide relief operation and, most importantly, shelter to the homeless. Many temporary shelters have been set up all over the three districts and the government is doing its best,” Mallick added.
The city of Kolkata also experienced heavy rainfall all through Thursday and low-lying areas in the city were inundated as the Kolkata Corporation officials rushed to clear the waterlogging.
“The city will not be affected as we have taken all precautionary measures. Low-lying areas may witness waterlogging but we are trying to clear the same. The absence of the mayor will not affect the relief operations in the city,” said Iqbal Ahmad, deputy mayor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee who was in London has returned to the city, cutting short her visit owing to the emergency situation in the state. “The chief minister has returned as she was in constant touch with the officials and wanted to stand by the people in their hour of need,” said a party member.
However, many believe that Banerjee’s return is a political message where she cuts short her visit trying to showcase her concern for the people of the state ahead of the 2016 assembly elections.